Dangers of Flying With A Cold

Flying with a cold or allergies can cause your ears and sinuses a great deal of pain. When you are healthy, you are able to adjust to changes in air pressure, but if you have a cold, you will not be able to equalize the pressure as easily.

Beyond being uncomfortable, flying with a cold can actually be harmful to your ears. Normally, air flows through the Eustachian tube inside of your ear keeping the pressure on both sides of the eardrums equal. However, when you have a cold, swollen membranes in the ear can block the Eustachian tube.

If the Eustachian tube is blocked, the eardrum can become stretched as a result of the unequal pressure; this can be extremely painful. In severe cases the middle ear can fill with fluid causing an ear infection or the eardrum may burst.

Landing is what causes issues because it is more difficult as you come down quickly and the cabin pressurizes more rapidly than during a slow/gradual takeoff.

One of the best ways to help equalize the pressure in your ears during landing is known as the Valsalva maneuver, in which you pinch your nose and close your mouth, and then try to exhale through your nose. If you hear and feel a “popping” sensation in the ears, then you have successfully equalized the pressure. This generally helps release pressure, and gets rid of ear pain during landing.

However, if Valsalva is not enough then you can use decongestants like Afrin and/or Sudafed during the flight and prior to landing.